Automatic time-stamp



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

H. A. CHASE. AUTOMATIC TIME STAMP. No. 445,161. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. A. CHASE.

AUTOMATIC TIME STAMP. 110.445,161. Patented Jan.27,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY A. CHASE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC TIME-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,161, dated January2*?, 1891.

Application tiled .l'uly 3 l, l 8 90@ To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CHASE, of Boston, county of Suttolk,Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Time-Stamps,ol' which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters and gures on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve that class ot' automatictime-stamp which stamps the time on a strip of paper.

In accordance with this invention the stamp has been so constructed andmounted in the frame that it acts to print the time on the top of astrip of paper, where it remains in full view, thus obviatingoverturning the strip of paper to see the time. l have also combinedwith the timestamp a time-indicating dial and pointer, which is exposedto view at the top ot the machine, so that a person looking at the stampmay sec the time, using it as a clock.

The printing devices herein represented comprise a lined plate havingthereon rubber or other characters representing the hours of the day, apointer adapted to be turned to point to the-hour, and another pointeradapted to be turned to indicate the minutes or" the hour, it beingunderstood that the hour-pointer makes a complete revolution each twelvehours and the minute-pointer a complete revolution each hour, suitablemechanism being provided for that purpose. As herein shown, the saidhour and minute hand pointer-arbors are actuated by or through anelectro-magnet and intermediate devices, which give to said arbors anintermittent or step-by-step movement, the said magnet being included inan electric circuit containing a circuit-changing device movedorcontrolled by a clock or other motor. The platen over which the paperis moved and by which the paper is lifted against the stamp is shown asadapted to be attracted by an electro-magnet, and I have also shown itas adapted to be moved by hand, if desired.

The time-stamp has combined with it devices to indicate A. M. and P. M.,and dating devices to indicate the day of the month, the month, and yearare provided, which may be turned as required by hand.

Figure l shows in vertical section a time- Serial No. 360,557, (Nomodel.)

stamp embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of thetime-stamp shown in Fig. l, taken on the dotted line cc Fig. 3, a planview of the time-stamp shown in Fig. l, the cover or top plate beingremoved; and Figs. and 5, details to be referred to.

The main trame-work consists of a hollow base portion A and a hollow topportion B, provided with a cover O of glass. The base portion A containsan electro-magnet a, which is supposed to be included in any usualelectric circuit. The armature a of this electromagnet a is attached toa rod or bar a2, movable horizontally in a bearing as and connected atone end to a bell-crank lever aSpivoted at c5, said lever being` in turnconnected to a supporting rod or bar a0, attached to a platen al, which,as herein shown, rests normally on the top of the frame A, and thearmature ot the electro magnet 1s normally retracted. lVhen the armaturea is attracted, the rod a2 will be moved in the direction of the arrow,Fig. l, and lift the platen. A spiral spring all, encircling the rod orbar a2 and bearing at one end against the bearing as and at its otherend against a hub as secured to the said rod or bar, serves to restorethe platen into its normal position, and also to retract the armature.The armature a has a short arm a, slotted horizontally, as at 0.10, toreceive a pin am of a bell-cranlr lever am, pivoted at asaidlever beingloosely connected to a rod or bar 0,15, extended vertically through thetop portion B ot the frame, and provided with a knob am, by which saidrod L15 may be depressed to lift the platen. A spiral spring d1T on thebar L15 keeps the knob a1G in its elevated position. lVhen the armaturea is attracted, the slot am will follow on the pin am.

Two rollers b ti', journaled in the frame B above the platen al, one ateach side, support or carry a suitable inlzing-ribbon h2. These rollersl) Z2 have thumb-nuts b3 b" (see Fig. 3) by which to turn them.

The printing device herein represented consists of a stationary circularplate c, having on its under side characters representing the hours ofthe day. Cooperating with this plate is the hour-indicating pointer c',secured to a rotatable arbor c2, having its bearings in the frame B, andthe minute indicating pointer c", secured to a sleeve cV1 on the arborIOO c2. The sleeve Lc4 has fixed to it a toothed wheel cg, which engagesa pinion e8, (see dotted lines, Fig. 3,) fixed to an arbor c7, carryinga toothed wheel c6, which engages a pinion c5, (see dotted lines, Fig.3,) fixed to the arbor c2. The toothed wheel cfhas a complete revolutioneach hour and with it the pointer c3, and through the train of gearsabove described the lpointer c is turned a complete revolution once intwelve hours. As lherein shown, the toothed wheel c1 derives itsrotation from a toothed wheel d, secured tothe arbor c2, said wheelhaving, it will be supposed, sixty teeth, and being movedintermittingly, or by a step-by-step device. This step-by-step deviceconsists ot" a rod or bar d2, attached to the armature d3 of an electromagnet d1, and having rigidly secured to it a push -pawl d5, whileanother push-pawl d is secured loosely to the -outer end of said rod orbard2, said loose pawl having an arm or projection (Z7, which, when thearmature d8 is attracted, strikes a fixed pin da and turns the said pawld6 on its pivot in the direction of the arrow thereon, and thereby movesthe said toothed wheel d. This step-by-step device referred to issubstantially the same as ordinarily used in electric clocks. As hereinshown, the magnet d1 is supposed to be included in an open circuit, sothat each time the said magnet is energized the armature d3 will beattracted and the toothed wheel d moved by means of the pawl d6 thedistance of substantially one-half a tooth, and when the said armatureis retracted the pawl (Z5 will engage and move a further distance equalto substantially onehalf a tooth, so that by a complete vibration of thearmature the wheel will be moved forward one tooth.

d10 (see Fig. 3) represents the retractile .spring for the armature cl3.

The frameB has a fixed stud or poste, provided at its lower end with theletter M, and opposite said post is a stud c', having a disk e2,provided with the letters A P, so that when this lifting-disk is in oneposition the letter P will be exposed to print, and when in its otherposition the letter A will be in properposition to print. This disk e2is arranged to be turned automatically once in twelve hours, and I haveshown one train of gearing for accomplishing this result, said gearingconsisting of a toothed wheel t', secured to the shaft or arbor c7 andengaging a toothed wheel i', secured to a shaft or arbor t2, whichcarries a pinion t3, which engages a toothedwheel 4, secured to a shaftor arbor i5, carryinga cam-disk '1111. The lever is, pivoted at t7, hasat one end a friction-roll which co-operates with the cam-disk t6, (seeFig. 5,) and at its other end said lever has a pin or stud fi, whichstrikes one or another projection @'10, secured to the stud e', and atsubstantially right angles to said projections 10 two projections 12 arearranged, having flat faces which co-operate with a flat spring 13.

As the lever s is moved ou its pivot by the 'cam G the stud e will beturned so that one of the projections 'i12 will bear against and movethe spring @'13 until the said projection passes its dead-center,afterwhich the spring will act on the opposite side of the saidprojection 12 and thereby give the stud a quick turn. By this mechanismthe stud e willbe turned substantially one-fourth of a revolution slowlyby means of the cam t, and then another fourth of a revolution by meansof the spring 13.

On the plate u an auxiliary dial u is arranged, indicating the hours,and an hourhand a2 is secured to the arbor c2, which moves over the saiddial to thereby indicate to the eye the exact time which is to beprinted by the printing devices concealed from sight. A thumb-nut a3 isalso secured to the arbor c2, by which it may be turned. A suitablepiece of glass is set in the case above the dial u.

Suitable dating devices are provided, herein represented asdating-wheels 2 3 4, arranged to be turned by a thumb-screw 5 in anyusual or suitable manner.

It will be seen that the printing devices of the time-stamp hereinrepresented are adapted to be moved forward step by step by theelectro-magnet d4, energized in any usual or suitable manner, and thatthe disk e2 is turned once in twelve hours to present A or P, asdesired, and that the dating devices are set up by hand in any usual orsuitable manner.

l. In a time-stamp, an hour-shaft having on it at one end a hand orpointer, a minuteshaft revolving about the hour-shaft and hav- IOOconcentric with said shafts and with whichdial the, hands or pointersco-operat-e, a hand on the opposite end of the hour-shaft, a visibleauxiliary dial with which it co-operates, and an actuating-train forsaid hour and minute shafts, combined with a platen and anelectro-magnet to move said platen against the dial-plate in thedirection of its axis, substantially as described.

2. In a time-stamp, an hour-shaft having on it at one end a hand orpointer, a minuteshaft revolving about the hour-shaft and having at oneend a hand or pointer, adial-plate concentric with said shafts and withwhich dial the hands or pointers co-operate, a hand on the opposite endof the hour-shaft, a visible auxiliary dial with which it co-operates,and an actuating-train for said hour and minute shafts, combined with aplaten movable against the dial-plate in the direction of its axis, andmeans to move said platen, substantially as described.

3. In a time-stamp, an hour-shaft having on it at one end a hand orpointer, a minuteshaft revolving about the hour-shaft and having at oneend a hand or pointer, a dial-plate concentric with said shafts andwith'which dial the hands or pointers co-operate, a hand IIO on theopposite end of the hour-shaft, a Visible auxiliary dial With which iteo-operates, an actuating-train for said hour and ininute shafts, thelined stud e, having thereon the character M, the movable stud adjacentthereto having on it the Characters A P, and means for moving itautomatically, combined with a platen, and an electro-magnet to movesaid platen against the dial-plate in the clireotion of its axis andalso against said fixed 1o and movable studs, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

.HENRY A. CHASE. llfitnesses:

BERNICE J. Noyns, EDITH F. GUILD.

